A Look at Lent: Some (Odd) Customs

Mardi Gras

The three days before Ash Wednesday have been about the carnival since Italy evolved a tradition of festive sinning during them. The Road to Gandolfo by Robert Ludlum refers to fornicating in the streets. The philosophy behind the triad of frivolity was to celebrate the high life before the grind of the 40 days of fasting, prayer, and sobriety of Lent. Maybe they felt that they should do something to feel penitent about.“Carnival” actualy refers to the Italian “carnevale” meaning “goodbye, meat.”

Many cultures, particularly the warm-weather countries in Latin America, France, and Spain adopted this party theme. The most noted celebrations are New Orleans’ and Brazil’s parades and events. It’s as if life itself must explode and recede at Ash Wednesday before the introspection of Lent which leads to Easter.

Or Shrove Tuesday

Northern countries in Europe adopted other customs. The Tuesday before Ash Wednesday (the first day of Lent) is called Shrove Tuesday, referring to the word “shrive” which means to confess. It’s called “Pancake Tuesday” alternately in the UK, Ireland, Australia, and Canada.

In many lands, foods were made with the rich food items such as eggs, butter, and sugar that would be banned in Lenten abstinence and fasting. Rules regarding food were harsher than the meatless Fidays of today. Pancakes have been made in these countries for hundreds of years. The Irish eat them with sugar and lemon for the most part. Different traditions have evolved in locations: some use strawberries or maple syrup

In the US, Michigan’s Polish community eats packis on Shrove Tuesday. The Pennsylvania Dutch eat fasnachts, fried potato dough with sugar glaze or dark corn syrup.

Some unusual events have been connected with this Tuesday. Many towns and cities hold Pancake Races, which have their start in legends about a housewife who was so busy making pancakes, she didn’t note time passing until she heard the church bells. She raced out of her house carrying the frying pan and continued flipping the pancakes all the way up the road. Pancake Races re-enact this quaint story with varying sets of courses and quotas for timely cake-flipping. Liberal, Kansas and Olney, United Kingdom hold contests against each other, comparing times of contestants to determine winners. At last count Liberal led.

Rumor has had it that the town of North Somercotes in North Yorkshire, UK would annually shut down the beach road so that people could skip in it. This is not substantiated, but towns across the British Isles have similar events these days. One place in the West of Ireland holds stone-throwing contests in the road. The reference here may be to Biblical passages about sinners casting stones, but noone is sure.

Ash Wednesday

The first day of Lent dawns grayly. This is the marker for a 40-day period that corresponds to Jesus’ wandering in the desert. A period of fasting and abstinence, Lent calls the penitent to focus on renouncing sinful habits and learning spiritual purging. He will achieve acquiescence to his calling.

The tradition of giving something up for Lent is an offshoot of this self-denial and the demonstration of solidarity with those who suffer.

The observances associated with Lent are over 1,000 years old and may seem at times odd to us today. But for billions of people who have lost touch with the origins of the rituals, the annual customs hold meaning still, even if it’s a trip to New Orleans. The touch with the roots remains with new value.